Business

Seven technology companies based in Fairfax County are among the 100 largest African-American-owned service/industrial firms in the country, according to Black Enterprise (BE) magazine. The magazine ranks the companies by revenue and features the 2002 list in its June edition.

The seven Fairfax County companies represent more than half of the 13 Washington, D.C.-area companies on the BE 100 list. Overall, 13 firms from Virginia and three from Maryland are on the 30th annual list.

The only city or county in the United States with more companies on the list than Fairfax County is Detroit (11). The only states with more companies on the list are Michigan (20), Illinois and New York (eight each).

The seven Fairfax County companies ranked on the 2002 BE 100 list are as follows:

“You’d be hard-pressed to find another community that is as open to minority-owned businesses as Fairfax County. This is one of the premier places in the country for business people from all backgrounds to live and prosper,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA.

On Oct. 20-22, 2002, Fairfax County will host the second annual Emerging Business Forum (www.emergingbusinessforum.org), a conference that helps culturally diverse entrepreneurs develop skills to get better access to partners and customers, mentors and sources of capital. The FCEDA created and developed the concept of the Forum.

Leadership Fairfax Inc. (LFI) has formed the Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI). ELI is an eight-month leadership training program that will bring together professionals from business, government and nonprofit organizations. The program will begin Oct. 1 and be completed in early June. Applications for the class are due July 1 and can be downloaded at www.leadershipfairfax.org. For more information, call Susan Horne at 703-749-0409, Ext. 338.

The following sales associates for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Vienna have won Honor Roll Achievements for April 2002:

The Belt Team – top producer, top sales, top buyer agency contracts, top listings sold, top listing agent;

The following sales associates for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in McLean have won Honor Roll Achievements for April 2002:

Mark Middendorf – top producer, top sales, top listing sold, top listing agent;

Yassi Nasseri – top producer, top listings sold, top listing agent;

Phyllis Alpern – top sales;

Lisa Young – top buyer agency contracts.

Chef Fabio Trabocchi of Maestro restaurant has composed a signature version of Il Filetto alla Rossini, which celebrates the culinary talents of 19th-century Italian composer and fellow countryman from the Marches, Gioacchino Rossini. Maestro’s is located at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in McLean. For reservations, call 703-917-5498.

The following sales associates of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Great Falls have won Honor Roll Achievements for 2002:

Ratan Kumar – top producer, top sales, top listings sold, top listing agent;

Marie Giunta – top producer, top sales;

Terri Robinson – top buyer agency contracts;

Rachel Jene – top listings sold.

The Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF) is now sending street teams to youth-oriented state events with the new Mini Cooper microcar in order to promote the Y Campaign among teen-agers. The car sports amenities such as a laptop, DVD and mini DV cam and allows teens to record their thoughts on why tobacco use is stupid. The VTSF, established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, is continuing efforts to reduce and prevent tobacco use among youth in Virginia. For further information, visit the Y Campaign Web site at ydouthink.com.

The Virginia Historical Society will host this year’s Teachers Institute, “Virginia Women: From Private Sphere to Public Life.” Kathryn Fuller-Seeley, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor, will lead the seminar along with other Virginia Commonwealth University faculty. This year’s Teachers Institute will focus on women’s history and the rise of feminism in the 20th century. The Teachers Institute will take place July 8-12 in Richmond.

Vicki Bartlett has joined Beers & Cutler as president of Internal Audit Services LLC. Bartlett is also president of the Northern Virginia chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Beers & Cutler serves as the largest Washington, D.C.-based business advisory and CPA firm and will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce invites the public to a Business Mixer sponsored by McLean Insurance Agency on Wednesday, July 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at 6707 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 210. For reservations, call 703-356-5424.

The Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce’s (VTRCC) annual Service Awards Luncheon will be held on July 11 starting at 11:30 a.m. at Ristorante Bonaroti (428 Maple Ave. E.) beginning with a networking session. State Del. Jeannemarie Devolites (R-35th) and VTRCC chairman Renee Younes will present the Business of the Year Award to Joana Duma of Fresh Fields Whole Foods market, Vienna; the Business Person of the Year Award to Barbara McHale of Weichert Realtors; the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Karin Collis of Karin’s Custom Images; and the Citizen of the Year Award to Vienna auxiliary policeman Ken Plumb. The outgoing chairman, Amelia Toten of United Bank, selected Larry Murphy of UBS/PaineWebber and The Residence Inn by Marriott to receive this year’s Chairman’s Award. Madison High School baseball coach Mark Gjormand and several players from the Virginia State Champions will also be recognized during the event. Honorees will receive special recognition as they ride down Maple Avenue during the Vienna-Tysons regional Chamber of Commerce’s 56th Annual Halloween Parade on Oct. 23. For additional information, contact Gary Powers at 703-281-1333.

The Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce invites all members and prospective members to an evening networking mixer on Thursday, July 25, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the T. Rowe Price group, 1600 Tysons Blvd., No. 150. Attendees will join the staff of the T. Rowe Price Group on a behind-the-scene tour of the facility. Call the Chamber office for reservations at 703-281-1333 or visit the Events section of the Chamber’s Web page at www.vtrcc.org.

The Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce invites all members and prospective members to an evening networking mixer and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Premier Wine Cellars, 8486-I Tyco Road. Owners Malcolm Riddle and Paul Martorana have brought a new wine retail company to the Vienna-Tysons area. They launched operations in January 2002 and opened their doors in March. Call the Chamber office for reservations at 703-281-1333 or visit the Events section of the Chamber’s Web page at www.vtrcc.org.

The Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce invites all members and prospective members to TIP GROUP meetings every Tuesday from 12-1:30 p.m. at Restaurant Seven, 8521 Leesburg Pike, and also every Thursday from 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Amphora Restaurant, 377 Maple Ave. W. There is no cost other than paying for the meal. Call the Chamber office for more information at 703-281-1333.

Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, along with Virginia state Sen. Leslie Byrne (D-34th) and community supporters, staged a demonstration in front of the Gucci store in Fairfax Square, Tower II, 8075 Leesburg Pike, Suite 140, on Thursday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m. Supporters demonstrated for safer workplaces and the right to unionize for employees of the French multinational Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, Gucci’s parent company. The rally was part of AFL-CIO’s Voice@Work Month in June.

Charles “Bill” F. Bullington of McLean/Academy Commercial Insurance in McLean, was installed as president-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia for FY ‘02-03. Bullington and other officers were installed during IIAV’s 104th Annual Convention. Bullington began his career in insurance in 1966 in life sales, then moved to property and casualty in 1970 with INA/SIGNA. He became an agent in 1980 and joined the McLean Agency in 1998. Bullington is a graduate of Florida State. He and his wife, Julia, have a son, Ernie, and Bill has supported his community by coaching lacrosse for Lake Braddock Secondary School and working with the Boy Scouts, and through other community associations.